A long spell of silence passed. The others involved in the alliance began to stream in.
Tsuchimikado had changed into a fresh set of clothes, and the Exorcist also looked much better. Van Zhuo entered, leading Anthony along with him. In the time it took for the tea to brew, everyone else had gathered.
In usual fashion, the Yin-Yang Master first asked about Xu Su’s situation, then stuffed him with various strange talismans and told him to stick one on his forehead if he had trouble sleeping at night. Xu Su gave him a reluctant smile, accepting it gratefully.
After briefly exchanging pleasantries, they finally cut to the chase.
The main topic was the special event and how they should act.
Zhuge An, who had kept his eyes closed through this time, opened his eyes again. He recovered his chatterbox attribute, talking incessantly about his conjectures, plans, and preparation. Anyone who tried to interject would be glared daggers.
Everyone, “…”
Forget it. Their IQ lost out to him, so they simply listened in silence.
First things first. According to their previous schedule, the next item on the agenda would be to expose No. 1’s identity as the instructor. However, Zong Jiu once made a deal with the system in Las Vegas regarding this information, so he couldn’t inform others about this of his own initiative. Otherwise, he would be obliterated.
Zhuge An didn’t reveal his thoughts about that but neither did he seem to plan on making this piece of information public. Instead, he focused on exploring the deeper meaning behind this Masquerade Ball and discussed possible scenarios for the next instance.
There was no doubt the next instance would be ranked S+ in difficulty.
Zhuge An said he once got lucky in an S-rank instance and uncovered a journal left by a predecessor, which described the horror of an S+ instance.
“A long time ago, props were allowed into S+ rank instances. But ever since that S+ particular rank instance came to be, the system revoked the right to bring props in, and new rules were added to the contenders’ rulebook. That was when it entered the public consciousness.”
The dark-haired man turned a meaningful look onto Zong Jiu. “However, after perusing the rulebook for the Thriller Trainee competition and making some deductions… Well, you don’t need to know the specific ins and outs, because even if I went through it, you might not understand my logic process. Therefore, just listen to the conclusion.
“There is a high possibility that the system might relax this restriction against props for the upcoming S+ rank instance, but how that would be done is still hard to say. That said, I’m almost completely certain it will happen.
“Right now, instead of focusing on special props, it would be better to earn more survival points and give yourself sufficient physical enhancements before entering the S+ rank instance.”
Everyone took the suggestion raised by Zhuge An seriously.
The infinite loop has not seen a second S+ rank instance in this entire decade. Therefore, the rumours floating around about them were mainly based on artefacts the previous generation of contenders left behind. One widely spread rumour was that there was one day when the system suddenly announced that if there was an S+ rank instance in the future, it would cancel the effects of special props and privileges from blood lineages.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
If those were not available, then all they could rely on was their physical enhancements. Even if the survival points required for that were staggeringly high, it would still be useful if it could prevent them from being turned into minced meat.
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So, the real focus of the Masquerade still fell upon Zong Jiu.
He cast a look at Zhuge An and didn’t say a word.
—
In the remaining time, the trainee dormitories entered a festive mood.
They had a long intermission this time around, not to mention that the event in between was a special welfare event; it moved people so much that the system seemed to finally have a conscience. Even if the points they could reap were lesser, the risks were reduced to zero, so trainees didn’t have to worry for their lives as they tried to strike rich.
Many enthusiastically ran to the indoor city on the ground floor of the trainee dormitories after two days of rest.
The latest addition to the indoor city was the fashion boutique set up exclusively for the Masquerade Ball. Trainees could design a 3D model of themselves inside and freely dress it up, change the height, body measurements, and so on. As long as it passed the system check, they could save the model, and then change into it on the day of the Masquerade with a mere click – all rather convenient.
It was pure entertainment. Everyone was looking forward to recognising as many people as they could and earn more survival points. The atmosphere was jubilant, and it was not uncommon for trainees to design a strange appearance for themselves.
Since their faces would be hidden behind a mask anyway, there were even some who were secretly planning to cross-dress.
It was possible; the models could be outfitted with prosthetic breasts to change the curvature of the body. Like the character customiser in video games, one could simply put on a pair of stockings and an ultra-short skirt, and transform directly into a pretty girl. Furthermore, the mandatory mask provided completely removed any psychological burden. Just pinch the throat and one could hear a sweet voice calling out gege.
Men couldn’t usually strut it, but if they truly committed to a task, then none could do it better than them.
Today, Zong Jiu had his breakfast and headed to the fashion boutique on the first floor. As soon as he entered, the stylist NPC at the door jumped shrieked theatrically. “Oh my system, look at what a promising cross-dresser he would make!”
Zong Jiu, “…?”
He expressionlessly looked away. “Excuse me.”
“No wait, child, aren’t you going to consider it for a moment?”
The stylist showed an expression of heartbreak and moved to block his way, estimating Zong Jiu’s measurements from a distance with a tape measure in his hands and a fiery glint in his eyes.
“This shoulder-to-hip ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, long legs, body ratio; a waterfall of moonlight-white hair, rose-kissed eyes, a gaze as mesmerising as Aphrodite, those beautiful androgynous facial features… Oh, I guarantee that all eyes will be drawn towards your striking figure at the ball. It’s really your loss not to cross-dress.”
Zong Jiu was already walking away. The stylist watched him leave, waving his handkerchief while crying, “Wait!! Don’t you need a stylist to assist you in selecting your clothes?!”
Zong Jiu: No, I don’t need one.
He swiftly entered the fitting room and harshly slammed the door behind him, insulating himself from the theatrical cries outside.
After Zong Jiu walked into this tiny room, the lighting overhead suddenly changed.
Under the spreading light, a water mirror faded into existence before him. The small fitting room gradually widened at its edges to become a boundless expanse.
In the mirror, a reflection identical to Zong Jiu appeared. Although it shared his facial features and physique, it was expressionless, eyes hollow and gaze vacant.
If it was possible to find where the model was looking, though, it would become a scene straight out of a horror movie.
Zong Jiu criticised the model in his head but didn’t hurry to execute what look he planned to achieve. He first scanned the row of labels to the side.
[Hairstyle] [Body shape] [Costume] [Accessories] [Mask]
Since the faces of all trainees would be hidden under a mask, facial features couldn’t be changed, and therefore there was no option for that. The same went for their voices, as it would all be mechanised by the system into an icy AI voice.
The rule was that no matter how the trainee changed their appearance or whatever theme they chose, everyone must leave three distinctive features.
Zong Jiu had too many of such.
First was his snow-white hair, and next would be his pale skin that lacked pigmentation. Besides that, there was also the colour of his eyes.
The eyes would be concealed by the mask, so he could ignore it, but his hair would definitely pose a problem.
If he dared to attend the ball with this hair colour, wouldn’t he be openly announcing his identity?
Therefore, the first change Zong Jiu made was to his hair colour.
Oh, not actually. His hair colour wasn’t the first to go.
The moment Zong Jiu entered, the very first thing he set out to do was increase his height from slightly over 1.8 metres to 2 metres in the body shape panel.
He’d long since been fed up with No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 looking down at him! Passing 1.8 metres was clearly a standard height for male models. Before transmigrating, Zong Jiu could usually strut through an airport, but who would have thought that after entering the book, it was as though each of these guys was fed milk in the womb. It made him furious.
So, after changing his height, Zong Jiu made some adjustments to his hairstyle.
The system was seriously capable of anything. The hairstyles they suggested included both ancient and modern styles. Zong Jiu even glimpsed Medusa’s hairstyle in the catalogue, which would definitely cause an explosive effect at the entrance.
Good lord. Were they actually in some kind of dress-up game?
Zong Jiu shook his head, changing his white hair to the most mundane and commonly seen black.
When the colour changed, the reflection in the water mirror seemed to completely give off a different vibe.
Zong Jiu’s skin was fair to begin with, and the black hair conversely made his skin tone appear so white that the colour of his veins could be seen. If he stood in the hallway of the trainee dormitories in the middle of the night, it would certainly make others wet themselves.
That wouldn’t do. No matter how he did his hair, it would have to match his clothes.
He considered it a while longer and felt this conversely made him stand out more. As such, he quickly went to the costume panel, deciding to do his clothes first before he made any more big changes.
In the end, when he opened the costume panel, Zong Jiu faced another dilemma.
The extensive selection inside was too bedazzling, covering every theme, style, and period, with all sorts of eccentricities. It was impossible to make a decision.
Most people would be willing to choose more extravagant clothes, but to Zong Jiu, it seemed that extravagant clothes would inevitably attract more attention. It was better to wear something more ordinary… wait!
His gaze coincidentally swept over an ordinary, plain black suit on the clothing display, and his eyes just happened to collide with his black hair—and all of a sudden he was hit by a burst of inspiration.
If he truly aimed to attract attention and suspicion, the easiest way to go about achieving that was not to wear extravagant clothes, but to dress up as a famous trainee in the competition.
For example…
Zong Jiu looked at ‘No. 1’ in the water mirror, and a satisfied smile spread on his face.
Translated by 🎏
Edited by Ashen, snoflakesun
Thanks for the chapter!
Wonder what No.1 will think when he sees Zong Jiu posing as him 🤔
Dressing up as your husband, how bold
How come this sounds like something written in a novel!! Tell me, are you a system or an MC breaking through the fourth wall?!
So true!!!
Even systems’ require down time :/
And if No. 1 decides to cosplay as Zong Jiu then what??
Thanks for the chapter ♡♡♡♡♡
aahahahahahaha scheming Zong Jiu will tease his future hubby by pretending to be him and dressing up like him :thinking: Cute tbh and really want to see Nr 1’s reaction XD. Thank you so much for the chapter! <3
Omg, lmao…not how No. 1 will react… Thanks for the update 🤣🤣🤣🤣❤️❤️❤️
If you want to attract your husband attention you can wear his clothes
Thank you for your translation 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
Zong Jiu is quite naughty! ☺️ Loving his dressup as No. 1. Wonder what his hubby would think!!
…But i’m pretty sure that the Magician is the only trainee (at least in the eyes of the other contenders) to have directly gone against the Devil. If they realize he’s not truly the Devil, wouldn’t it be obvious who’d dare to cosplay as him…?
Hahaha imagine if No. 1’s costume is Jiu tho
Couple goals
Lol and imagine no1 disguising as Zong Jiu too
How to attract your hubby to yourself and deceive people a guide by Zong Jiu 😏😏
Wonder what No. 1s dress up will be?
Also this reminds me of ORV where Dokja and Joonghyuk introduces themselves while using eo names and even had couple costumes 🤭😂😂